Chapter Text
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX, ALBERT PARK CIRCUIT
There is the harsh sound of wheels spinning, starting to squealing against the pavement as several cars come peeling away from the starting line, tearing around the first bend of the track that they come across. Just moments before those cars reach that part of the track, there is the high-pitch whine, a shrill chirp, as the cars set off the nearby speed-trap. The LED screen lights up as it rapidly ticked upwards, shooting from 0 to 100 in moments. As a few cars from further back shot past, it ticked up even further.
It’s time.
COMMENTATOR ONE (SLAMMING HIS HANDS AGAINST THE TABLE THAT THEY’RE SITTING AT): “Alrighty then, with that, how about we get this going, eh, Kier?”
COMMENTATOR TWO (EXCITED): “I’d have to agree with that, Dev! Now, I’d like to say hello and welcome to the 77th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship and to the 30th anniversary of the first race in Melbourne! I’d also like to give an especially warm welcome to anyone who came out too join us at this race today!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (CHEERFUL): “As Kier said, this is the first official race of the 2026 Formula 1 Season and I know that it’s going to be a great one! Today, here at Albert Park, it’s all bright and sunny and it looks like it’ll remain that way though out the race.”
COMMENTATOR TWO (GESTURING DRAMATICALLY WITH HIS HANDS AS HE SPEAKS): “Well said, Dev, well said indeed! And what a season this season is expected to be! I think that we’re all going to be on the edge of our seats for the entirety of race – especially if the racers keep surprising us like the have been!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (NODDING ALONG): “And how right you are! What a race we are going to be watching – to those at home who may not know what has been happening, there was a massive upset during the qualifying races when a wet-behind-the-ears rookie almost overtook the winner of last year’s season, Sunspear’s P1 racer, Flame Frags!”
COMMENTATOR TWO (HIS VOICE IS FILLED WITH LAUGHTER): “Unfortunately for the rookie, Frags seems to race even better when he’s fighting for first instead of winning with ease!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (SERIOUSLY): “I don’t know, Kier, it looks like that newbie is looking to take the title of ‘The Best Racer’ from him! The P2 racer from Monarch, Wemmbu Gambit, has been quick to overtake even his own teammate! It’s almost unheard of, a rookie climbing the ranks so quickly – he’s even overtaken his own teammate!”
COMMENTATOR TWO (CONTEMPLATIVE): “Minute Tech, really? Well, I suppose that Tech has been slowing down recently – that was probably why Monarch finally brought in this fiery, hotshot of a rookie. After Branzy Craft finally retired the season before the last, no one has ended sticking to that P2 seat for Monarch!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (LOUDLY): “It looks like Gambit is aiming to push Tech down to P2, to claim his Position 1 slot with this race!”
COMMENTATOR TWO (HE NODS): “I’d say that you’re probably right. He’s claimed P2 in qualifying, right behind Frags, when Tech is still stuck in P4!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (TURNING TOWARDS THE CAMERA WITH A BROAD GRIN): “Well, folks, you’ve heard it here! That new rookie on Monarch’s drive team is a hotshot who seems like he wants to take that crown from Sunspear – and it looks like he has the skills back that desire up!”
COMMENTATOR TWO (RAISING AN EYEBROW): “To find out if he’s actually going to be able to take down the current king of racing, then we’re going to have to get back to the race, aren’t we?”
COMMENTATOR ONE (CHEERFUL AGAIN): “You’re right about that – Gambit and Frags aren’t the only top competitors, aren’t? Justice Driving’s Ace Deputy is, well, quite an ace in the hole and Jumper Who from Jellyfish Racing has been making waves.”
COMMENTATOR TWO (HUMS BEFORE HE SPEAKS): “I’d have to agree with that – I was honestly shocked when Underground Waves’ former Position 1 racer, Rejoice, ended up dropping to P2!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (SHOCKED): “You weren’t the only one surprised! I suppose that we’ll see how all of these changes in teams and positions on teams end up shaking out when we actually see the teams race, Kier. It looks like the racers will start out using medium tires, although I’m sure that someone of them will shift to hard tires the hotter it gets.”
COMMENTATOR TWO (EXCITED): “And it’s only been getting hotter!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (AGREEING): “And it’s only been getting hotter.”
COMMENTATOR TWO (CONVERSATIONALLY): “Right now it looks like Frags is in the lead, with both Pierce and Gambit right behind him, practically tied for second, and Pear only inches behind them! Shockingly, Zam Prince from Empire is currently in fifth! Normally he ends up lagging behind!”
COMMENTATOR ONE (NODDING): “Sunspear is doing incredible, especially with both of their racers in the top five. I’m astonished that Tech is behind Prince – normally he does better. But I suppose that everyone does have an off day. Hopefully he has better ones once we get further into the season!”
COMMENTATOR TWO (SHUFFLING A FEW PAPERS IN FRONT OF HIM): “You’re right, Dev. I wonder how many bets were placed on Tech placing high today that people are already regretting place?”
COMMENTATOR ONE (PLACING A HAND ON COMMENTATOR TWO’S SHOULDER): “I wouldn’t get ahead of yourself, Kier, we’re only on LAP 5 – there’s still a lot that could change in the next few hours! Maybe Tech will take a lead or maybe Prince will finally take a win, for once!”
COMMENTATOR TWO (CURIOUS): “Against the likes of Gambit and Frags? Unlikely.”
COMMENTATOR ONE (SHRUGS): “Unlikely but not impossible!”
COMMENTATOR TWO (AGREEING): “You’re right, I suppose. I guess that’s our cue to say what we’ve both been waiting for-,”
COMMENTATOR ONE & COMMENTATOR TWO (TOGETHER): “Welcome back to Formula 1 and it’s already shaping up to be a phenomenal season!”
The dull roar of the crowd exploded as the racers zip by again; the high-pitched whine of the speed-trap ringing out again and again.
It really does look like it’s going to be a fantastic season for Formula 1.